Richard E Rhine

Richard Eugene Rhine, 73, of Denison, IA, passed away on November 16, 2015, after a long battle with cancer in Mesa, AZ. Richard was born on April 16, 1942, on a farm northeast of Prescott, IA, to Harvey and Ruth Rhine. One of 3 children, Richard has an older sister, Jan, and a younger brother, David. In 1959 he married his wife of 56 years, Judy Pfundheller of Kent, IA, and together they raised four children.
Richard spent much of his youth working on his father’s farm and being active in 4H. Richard and Judy briefly settled in Corning, IA, while he worked for Smith Concrete Products. Ultimately, the family moved to Denison, IA, where Richard spent 33 years working for UPS before retiring in 1998. They attended the United Methodist Church of Denison where Richard was active as a trustee and helped with many projects over the years. One of Richard’s favorite accomplishments was helping to coordinate and build “Kids’ Kastle” in Denison. Richard also was a member of the Denison Optimists and Crawford County Garden Club for many years.
Upon retiring, Richard and Judy traveled to Germany, Switzerland, Austria, Alaska and, their favorite, Australia and New Zealand. They also spent time traveling around the country to see their children and grandchildren before settling in Mesa, AZ, for the winter months. It was there that they met all of the nice people whose time they so much enjoy.
Never one to be still, Richard enjoyed woodworking, hiking, biking, playing cards, dancing, and gardening. He was especially proud of his cactus garden in Mesa and was known for playing jokes on his friends. His craftsmanship was also utilized in the many home projects that he assisted with for his children and grandchildren.
Richard is preceded in death by his daughter, Traci; and his parents, Harvey and Ruth. He is survived by his wife, Judy; daughter Kelly and husband Nino; son Todd and wife Lisa; daughter Staci and husband Joe; and grandchildren Allison, Zachary, and Paige, Colin, and Ethan; sister Jan and husband Ralph; and brother David and wife Tammy.
The family would also like to acknowledge the care provided to Richard by his oncologist, Dr. Jue Wang, and everyone who provided him with comfort throughout his illness. For that, we will be forever grateful.